Anastasia, a resident of the Crimean village of Chernomorskoe, described a troubling scene at the Fortress cafe during a Defender of the Fatherland Day gathering. She said two armed men, identified as military personnel, began the altercation and that the attackers were members of an unmarked unit wearing masks. The clash left her partner injured and in serious condition, a consequence she believes could have been avoided with clearer accountability.
According to Anastasia, the trouble did not erupt from a single moment of heated words. The two officers escalated the situation, signaling for reinforcements and turning an ordinary celebration into a violent confrontation. Security footage, she added, would likely reveal a pattern of similar incidents in the past, though she noted no one ever brought them into public view. The staff of the cafe did not intervene decisively, possibly overwhelmed by the display of arms around the room. One of her boyfriend’s relatives tried to intervene to separate the fighters, but the two soldiers intensified the assault instead and dragged local bystanders into the chaos.
She recounted that the village had been under pressure to tolerate the presence of armed forces during local events. The Bear unit reportedly pressed those who recorded or spoke about the incident to delete footage, arguing that they would resolve matters internally. Anastasia, however, is determined to pursue accountability through official channels. She believes that public exposure is necessary to ensure proper action is taken and to prevent further intimidation.
In her view, the military presence has a chilling effect on the community. She claimed that residents have faced threats and pressure after previous confrontations, including cases where individuals were pressured to retract statements. The incident in the cafe, she argues, followed a troubling pattern: coercion, fear, and attempts to suppress information. She emphasized that the aim should be transparent accountability rather than quiet settlements of disputes behind closed doors.
The Telegram channel ChP Simferopol reported that the episode at the Kale cafe involved Bear fighters entering a cafe armed and forcing visitors to lie on the floor. A separate update from Mash on the Wave mentioned Defender of the Fatherland Day as the backdrop for the incident and indicated that a criminal case had been opened. These reports, while unverified by official channels, are part of the rapid stream of information surrounding the event and have contributed to heightened community concern about security and civilian safety in the area.
An eyewitness who had previously observed the fight in Crimea noted that one of the victims remained in serious condition. The details of the injuries and the precise sequence of events continue to be disputed, underscoring the volatility of the situation and the urgent need for credible, independent investigation to establish what happened and who is responsible.